New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Vitamin Records) - It's been a prolific year for Vitamin String Quartet, the Los Angeles-based collective that puts a classical spin on the world's most popular rock, metal, and pop acts. With VSQ's latest release, VSQ Performs Lady Gaga, off to the group's fastest-selling digital debut as a "New and Noteworthy" title on iTunes this week, and The Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Twilight: Eclipse due out on iTunes August 10th, the group is making quite a name for itself.
In the past year, the CW's hot new series, The Vampire Diaries has aired two tracks from VSQ's The String Quartet Tribute to Coldplay. VSQ's rendition of Coldplay's "Yellow" also appeared on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance, helping to drive VSQ to iTunes' Top 100 Rock Chart.
Such music notables as composer Danny Elfman and members of Tool, The Killers, Deftones, and Underoath have become fans, as has fashion designer and Project Runway judge Michael Kors. When asked about his favorite music, Kors told an interviewer, "There's a fabulous quartet called the Vitamin String Quartet, and they do all of your favorite pop songs in a very chamber music, classical way."
Among VSQ's newer releases are VSQ Performs Muse, VSQ Tribute to Star Wars, and Beaucoup de VSQ-which includes interpretations of such cutting-edge French acts as Phoenix, Air, M83, and Daft Punk.
Of the latest collection, VSQ Performs Lady Gaga, the Phoenix New Times says that "Poker Face" is the standout and that "VSQ uncovers a pretty astounding melody." Meanwhile, the L.A. Weekly wrote this of VSQ's beloved indie rock collection, Per_Versions: "...the cover that struck us immediately was the Quartet's take on No Age's "Eraser." The original, from the LA duo's Nouns, packs a lot of melody and noise into its minute-and-a-half."
On the heels of VSQ's popular tributes to the Twilight and Twilight: New Moon film soundtracks comes The VSQ Tribute to Twilight: Eclipse, available August 10th on iTunes. "The Twilight series really resonates with VSQ-both are able to weave the most compelling rock and alternative music into their own mysterious yet elegant worlds," says Vitamin label coordinator Leo Flynn. The release features renditions of songs by Muse, the Bravery,
Vampire Weekend and others.
Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Twilight: Eclipse track listing:
1. "Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)," Muse
2. "Chop and Change," The Black Keys
3. "Heavy in Your Arms," Florence + The Machine
4. "Eclipse (All Yours)," Metric
5. "My Love," Sia
6. "Ours," The Bravery
7. "Jonathan Low," Vampire Weekend